Philodendron plant named ‘Variegated Sport #1’

ABSTRACT

A new and distinct cultivar of  Philodendron  plant named ‘Variegated Sport #1’, characterized by its upright and outwardly spreading plant habit; dark burgundy-colored stems; glossy leaves that are initially yellow green with dark reddish brown variegation; and excellent postproduction longevity.

Botanical classification/cultivar designation: Philodendron hybrid cultivar Variegated Sport #1.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to a new and distinct cultivar of Philodendron plant, botanically known as Philodendron hybrid, and hereinafter referred to by the name ‘Variegated Sport #1’.

The new Philodendron is a naturally-occurring whole plant mutation of the Philodendron hybrid cultivar Prince of Orange, disclosed in U.S. Plant Pat. No. 6,797. The new Philodendron was discovered by the Inventor in a controlled environment in Apopka, Fla., as a single plant within a group of plants of ‘Prince of Orange’ during the summer of 2000. The selection of this plant was based on its uniquely-colored leaves.

Asexual propagation of the new cultivar by stem cuttings and tissue culture in a controlled environment in Apopka, Fla., since the spring of 2002, has shown that the unique features of this new Philodendron plant are stable and reproduced true to type in successive generations of asexual propagation.

BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The new Philodendron has not been observed under all possible environmental conditions. The phenotype may vary somewhat with variations in environment such as temperature and light intensity, without, however, any variance in genotype.

The following traits have been repeatedly observed and are determined to be the unique characteristics of the cultivar Variegated Sport #1. These characteristics in combination distinguish ‘Variegated Sport #1’ as a new and distinct cultivar:

-   -   1. Upright and outwardly spreading plant habit.     -   2. Dark burgundy-colored stems.     -   3. Glossy leaves that are initially yellow green with dark         reddish brown variegation.     -   4. Excellent postproduction longevity.

Plants of the new Philodendron are most similar to plants of the parent, the cultivar Prince of Orange. Plants of the new Philodendron differ primarily from plants of the cultivar Prince of Orange in developing leaf coloration as plants of the cultivar Prince of Orange have young leaves that are dark bronze in color.

Plants of the new Philodendron can also be compared to plants of the cultivar Pastel Sport #2, disclosed in a U.S. Plant patent application Ser. No. 10/949,932. In side-by-side comparisons conducted in Apopka, Fla. plants of the new Philodendron differed from plants of the cultivar Pastel Sport #2 primarily in leaf coloration.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE PHOTOGRAPHS

The accompanying colored photographs illustrate the overall appearance of the new Philodendron, showing the colors as true as it is reasonably possible to obtain in colored reproductions of this type. Colors in the photographs may differ slightly from the color values cited in the detailed botanical description which accurately describe the colors of the new Philodendron.

The photograph on the first sheet comprises a top perspective view of a typical plant of the cultivar Variegated Sport #1 grown in a container.

The photograph on the second sheet comprises a top perspective view of a typical plant of the parent, the cultivar Prince of Orange, grown in a container.

The photograph on the third sheet comprises a close-up view of the lower surfaces of a fully expanded leaf (left) and a developing leaf (right) of the cultivar Variegated Sport #1.

DETAILED BOTANICAL DESCRIPTION

The aforementioned photographs and the following observations and measurements describe eight-month old plants grown in 20-cm containers in Apopka, Fla., in a polyethylene-covered greenhouse with day temperatures of 21 to 32° C., night temperatures of 21 to 29° C., and light levels about 1,500 foot-candles.

In the following description, color references are made to The Royal Horticultural Society Colour Chart, 1995 Edition, except where general terms of ordinary dictionary significance are used.

-   Botanical classification: Philodendron hybrid cultivar Variegated     Sport #1. -   Parentage: Naturally-occurring whole plant mutation of Philodendron     hybrid cultivar Prince of Orange, disclosed in U.S. Plant Pat. No.     6,797. -   Propagation:     -   -   Method.—By tissue culture.         -   Time to initiate roots on a meristem-cultured plant.—About             16 weeks at day temperatures of 32° C. and night             temperatures of 21° C.         -   Time to develop roots on a meristem-cultured plant.—About 20             weeks at day temperatures of 24° C. and night temperatures             of 18° C.         -   Root description.—Strong, thick and fleshy; roots whitish,             towards the apex, dark burgundy. -   Plant description:     -   -   Plant shape.—Upright and outwardly spreading plant habit,             inverted triangle, symmetrical; rosette growth habit.         -   Growth habit.—Leaves closely spaced, bushy and dense growth             habit.         -   Plant height.—About 32 to 38 cm.         -   Plant diameter or spread.—About 65 to 77 cm.         -   Stem description.—Length, from soil level to growing point:             About 10 cm. Diameter: About 2.5 to 3 cm. Internode length:             About 5 to 10 mm. Color: 187A; leaf scars, 195A.         -   Foliage description.—Length: Largest leaves, about 32 cm;             average leaves, about 24 to 27 cm. Width: Largest leaves,             about 16 cm; average leaves, about 13 cm. Thickness: About             0.8 mm. Shape: Ovate. Apex: Acute. Base: Hastate. Margin:             Entire. Aspect: Leaf blade held about 45° from vertical.             Texture, upper and lower surfaces: Leathery; glabrous;             glossy. Venation: Midvein straight and thick; midvein and             primary veins recessed into the upper surface and protruding             from the lower surface. Color, newly expanded leaves, upper             surface: 153A to 153B; variegation, 34B; midrib, 153A             streaked with 34A to 34B; primary veins, 34B. Color, newly             expanded leaves, lower surface: 145B to 145C; dense             variegation, 178A; midrib, 179A streaked with 180B; primary             veins, 178A. Color, expanded leaves (center of plant), upper             surface: Darker and greener than but closest to 144A;             variegation, 177A and 178B; midrib, 144A streaked with 178A;             primary veins, 178A. Color, expanded leaves (center of             plant), lower surface: 144A to 144B; variegation, 177A;             midrib, 178A streaked with 179B; primary veins, 178A. Color,             mature leaves (lowermost on plant), upper surface: Lighter             than but closest to 137A; midrib, 146C; primary veins, 146D.             Color, mature leaves (lowermost on plant), lower surface:             Darker than but closest to 144A; midrib, 178A to 178B;             primary veins, 144A tinged with 178B. Petioles: Length:             About 12 cm. Diameter: About 12 mm by 9 mm. Color: 187A             streaked with 187C. Cataphylls: Length: About 19 cm. Width,             at base: About 5 cm. Shape: Triangular; keeled. Apex:             Acutely pointed. Margin: Entire. Texture, upper and lower             surfaces: Smooth, glabrous. Color, inner surface: 187B             streaked with 187D. Color, outer surface: 187A streaked with             187C. -   Inflorescence description:     -   -   Inflorescence arrangement.—Spathes and spadices arranged on             upright scapes.         -   Inflorescence longevity.—Inflorescences last on the plant             for about three months. Inflorescences persistent.         -   Time to flower.—Flowering occurs during the winter in             Apopka, Fla.         -   Spathe.—Length: About 15 cm. Width: About 2.7 cm. Shape:             Ovate. Apex: Pointed. Base: Cordate to obtuse. Margin:             Entire. Texture, inner surface: Smooth, waxy, shiny.             Texture, outer surface: Smooth, glossy. Color, inner and             outer surfaces: 187A streaked with 187C.         -   Spadix.—Length: About 12.5 cm. Diameter: About 1.2 cm.             Shape: Columnar, stout. Cross section: Rounded. Color,             female flowers: 158B. Color, male flowers: 159D. Female             flower diameter: About 1 to 2 mm. Quantity of female flowers             per inflorescence: About 500.         -   Scape.—Length: About 3.5 cm. Diameter: About 1 cm. Color:             187A.         -   Seed/fruit.—Seed and fruit development on plants of the new             Philodendron has not been observed. -   Disease/pest resistance: Under commercial conditions, plants of the     new Philodendron have not been observed to be resistant to pathogens     or pests common to Philodendron. -   Temperature tolerance: Plants of the new Philodendron have been     observed to be tolerant to temperatures ranging from 0 to 40° C. 

1. A new and distinct cultivar of Philodendron plant named ‘Variegated Sport #1’, as illustrated and described. 